Filling new layers with a neutral color, Create a knockout – Adobe Photoshop CS4 User Manual
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USING PHOTOSHOP CS4
Layers
Last updated 1/10/2010
Note: There is no Clear blending mode for layers. In
addition, the Color Dodge, Color Burn, Darken, Lighten, Difference,
and Exclusion modes are unavailable for Lab images. Layer blending modes available for 32-bit files are Normal,
Dissolve, Darken, Multiply, Linear Dodge (Add), Color Darken, Lighten, Color Lighten, Difference, Hue, Saturation,
Color, and Luminosity.
1
Select a layer or group from the Layers panel.
2
Choose a blending mode:
•
From the Layers panel, choose an option from the Blend Mode pop-up menu.
•
Choose Layer
> Layer Style
> Blending Options, and then choose an option from the Blend Mode pop-up menu.
For a video on using blending modes, see
.
More Help topics
Filling new layers with a neutral color
You can’t apply certain filters (such as the Lighting Effects filter) to layers with no pixels. Selecting Fill With (Mode)-
Neutral Color in the New Layer dialog box resolves this problem by first filling the layer with a preset, neutral color.
This invisible, neutral color is assigned according to the layer’s blending mode. If no effect is applied, filling with a
neutral color has no effect on the remaining layers. The Fill With Neutral Color option is not available for layers that
use the Normal, Dissolve, Hard Mix, Hue, Saturation, Color, or Luminosity modes.
Create a knockout
Knockout options let you specify which layers “punch through” to reveal content from other layers. For example, you
can use a text layer to knock out a color adjustment layer and reveal a portion of the image using the original colors.
As you plan your knockout effect, you need to decide which layer will create the shape of the knockout, which layers
will be punched through, and which layer will be revealed. If you want to reveal a layer
other than the Background, you
can place the layers you want to use in a group or clipping mask.
Farm logo with shallow knockout to Background layer
1
Do one of the following in the Layers panel:
•
To reveal the background, position the layer that will create the knockout above the layers that will be punched
through, and make sure the bottom layer in the image is a Background layer. (Choose Layer
> New
> Background
From Layer to convert a regular layer into a Background layer.)